"Why did you use magic instead of making another chair for yourself?" Isha asked while returning.
"Because, in that type of situations, we have to show who'll do the talking while others can only listen without voicing their questions much..." I answered.
'And spending magic eases the symptoms though I'll be in pain in the process... two birds with one stone.' I added inwardly.
***
The next day.
I got a news from Quinn that I'll be suspended for three weeks and that I'll have to get my talent assessed, so I'll be going to the association for the assessment.
'F**k the association! Why the hell do they need to assess me? Can't they shut it and do their damn investigation?' I grumbled inwardly all the way to the association.
'..... I'll just refuse it, it's not like they can force me. If they do, I'll just beat them until they are half dead or kill them... Killing them would be the ideal, because there will be no loose ends.' I nodded and drove towards the association.
I wore light pink baggy t-shirt, black trousers and ruffled my hair until it seemed alright.
VROOOM
From a distance, the association building appeared to be a white, grey, and blue coloured flat coin. Well, that was just my imagination... but the building was as large as, if not larger than, the academy.
"They have money. Well, I got it too! Muhahahaha." I laughed hysterically and drove towards the association.
VROOOM
*
"Hmm~" I hummed as I entered the association.
'Damn, I think, it's my first time here? Why are you guys registering as an awakened? When you can simply do what you want instead of following their orders?' I shook my head and noticed Seo Hana was staring at me from a distance.
'Hm? What is she looking at?' I looked down at my outfit.
"Is there something wrong with my outfit?" I mumbled, only my fists, head and collarbones were visible.
'I have two theories: one, I look weird and the next one which I find quite possible, she is a perv....' I shook my head and dismissed the thought.
".... Hello?" I greeted her, puzzled.
"Hello." Seo Hana nodded her head and greeted me.
'.... Is there something wrong?' I thought but didn't say it because she seemed familiar from somewhere and answering that would have made things awkward.
I flexed my shoulders, adjusted my t-shirt, and noticed her ears had turned a little red.... which stood out due to her light skin tone
"Well, anyway. I refuse to get assessed, so bye. You can call me if it's about the investigation." I turned around and started to walk away.
"Huh?" Seo Hana stood there and looked at me in disbelief.
"Hmm~mm~." I hummed joyfully and walked away.
".... Ah! Aii, wait!" Seo Hana spoke up, attracting the majority of the crowd's attention.
".... Hm? Yes?" I tilted head feigning ignorance.
".. you can't reject it! It's an order from the association chairman." She said as if it explained everything.
"And? What does that have anything to do with me? The order is for you, isn't it?" I asked.
"..... I-I mean, yes. But, you can't refuse it." She said in firm tone.
"Then go back to the one, who ordered you and say that 'Eshwar' didn't give a sh*t about it." I smiled brightly.
'Why the f**k would I be ordered by some incompetent fool? And that basta*d probably remembers me...'
".... Huh?" Seo Hana seemed flabbergasted.
"Hm? What else do you want?" I couldn't hide the annoyance in my voice, not that I tried.
".... You'll have to take responsibility for the massacre of the cadets..... and the blame...." Seo Hana face frowned but said the last part in a low tone.
"Hm? I mean they are my responsibility, are they not?" I asked her.
"And as for the blame..." I closed in on her, looked down at her and glared.
"If I seriously wanted to kill them.... " I leaned forward to her ear.
"I would leave no witness behind and....if you started an investigation on it.... you wouldn't be standing here..." I whispered.
"...." she turned pale.
"Good. Bye now and peace." I turned around and walked out with hand in air with a peace sign.
'.... That was good. Now, I won't have to deal with changing the group name from 'UNCHARTED'.'
***
Seo Hana did as she was asked and told the Association chairman about Eshwar's rejection.
The man in front of her was 6'5" foot tall, with dark brown hair and eyes, dressed in a black suit, and appeared to be in his mid-fifties. Stan Walton was his name. He frowned when he heard Eshwar's name, but he let Seo Hana continue with the report.
In case of 'emergencies,' the awakened ID had a tracker, which is naturally kept secret.
She knew what it meant to be registered as an awakened in the Hero association, and it was not about the safety nor the support, as they say on the outside. It is about leaving all of their information with them.
Even if she didn't like it, she had to work for the association and do her job. She knew they wouldn't care about other people's lives if it meant saving their own a*s and they would simply sell an awakener's information in the name of the 'greater good.'
The association does favours in the name of 'support.' They support the talented ones until they are strong enough to su*k them to the bone in the name of repaying the 'support' they received for their growth.
If they are not repaid for their 'support,' they simply label the awakened as a rogue hero, place a bounty on their heads, or launch a manhunt for them. Nobody will listen to the words of a hero who has gone 'rogue.'
In the name of defending humanity, the association sometimes issues orders without disclosing why they are acting; if anyone questions them, they make up a story in their favour and issue the orders, which are usually accepted unanimously, and those who defy the orders are declared to have gone rogue.
'... That guy was definitely stronger than me, a rank-S hero. One of the current strongest ten.' Seo Hana thought while reporting about the rejection.
"... He still dares...." the man in front of her mumbled.